XN000022-1996-05-15 — Page 28

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Reply:

Mr President,

The answers to the three parts of the question are as follows-

(a)

(b)

(c)

We operate a level playing field in Government procurement. Our aim is to ensure open and fair competition amongst domestic and foreign suppliers. We select the offers that represent best value for money, having regard to their suitability for the users' requirements, competitiveness in price, maintenance and other operational costs, and to reliability of performance and, where applicable, after-sale services. The country of origin of the goods is not a consideration in the award of contracts.

The United Kingdom accounted for 9.7% and 12.0% respectively of the total value of contracts, at HK$50,000 or more each, for goods procured by the Government Supplies Department in 1994 and 1995. Further details of the market share by major suppliers are set out in the table appended to the written version of my reply. We do not have the breakdown by country of origin for small value contracts.

We have no intention to change the purchasing policy outlined in my answer to the first part of the question.

End

Power to appoint end date of LegCo session

**

Following is a question by the Hon Lee Wing-tat and a written reply by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Anson Chan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council whether the Governor has any authority to appoint a date after 30 June 1997 as the ending date of the 1996-97 Legislative Council session; if so, what the legal basis for such authority is; if not, whether the Governor will appoint a date on or before 30 June 1997 as the ending date of the 1996-97 Legislative Council session?